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We honor the memory of our martyrs, whom we will never forget.”[5]
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[Page 591]
Kamenetz-Litowsk Malbush-Arumim [Clothing Aid]
by Sarah Hurwitz
Translated by Allen Flusberg
In the year 1923, the following individuals founded our society: R.[2] Binyomin Mostowsky, Mordechai[3] Simchowich, Rivka Lipshitz[4], Esther Dolinsky, Ḥaya Sara Mendelson and Fayge Radishitz. We had only a small number of ladies among the members. Gradually the society expanded and became a large undertaking. That was right after the First World War, when large numbers of people began immigrating to America. Our Kamenetz lands-froyen [ladies from our town] joined the society, and we already had more than 150 members then.
Our first activity was to send money for the Kamenetz Talmud Torah [beginning high school], clothing and food parcels for the children, and also monthly allowances for the teachers. These funds were sent to R. Yosef Vigutov, of blessed memory, who would distribute the money according to need[5].
Some time later we found out that some Kamenetz townspeople, together with the yeshiva, were now actually in Russia. Right away we started corresponding with them in writing, and we sent them money and parcels of food.
[Page 592]
The Malbush-Arumim [Clothing for the Poor] Ladies Society sent boat tickets for the yeshiva students to come to America, and so now we have a Kamenetz Yeshiva here (likewise in Jerusalem).
Thousands of dollars in charity have been spent for American and Kamenetz yeshivas, hospitals, Hachnosas Kalla [funding a wedding for a bride with limited means] and other institutions. We send aid to Israel, where we purchased a house through the United Jewish Appeal, as well as Israel Bonds. We purchased a room in the Kamenetz Yeshiva in Jerusalem and sent them a Torah scroll. We adopted a yeshiva student (a grandson of Rabbi Boruch-Ber[6], of blessed memory). Now they are constructing an additional building for the yeshiva in Jerusalem, and we have sent them a respectable sum of money for this project We also distribute Mo'ois Ḥittin[7] every year just before Passover.
We contributed to planting trees in Israel (through Yaakov Savitzky, of blessed memory) in the name of Malbush-Arumim. We contributed money to help rescue 4 orphaned sisters from a convent in France.
We contributed to Israel through the American Red Shield of David, sending shipments of various kinds of equipment: machines, building supplies, an ambulance, a blood-plasma centrifuge, oxygen tents and many medications, to the hospital and to the David Marcus Memorial Building.
More recently, we bought a clinic in Israel in Ofakim[8], near Beersheba, for $5,000, for which the Israeli government provided a contribution of $20,000.
On May 5th, 1963, we proudly and joyously celebrated our 40th anniversary. During the 40 years of its existence, our Malbush-Arumim Society has achieved a great deal of charitable work. It has also helped make the publication of the Yizkor Book possible.
The following ladies serve as our officers: Rivka Lifshitz—president; Rebbitzin[9] Bayla Tendler—vice president; Sarah Hurwitz— reporting and finance secretary; Nelly Federbush—treasurer. The following are vice presidents: Babel Serota, Ḥaya Rivka Sirota, Pearl Goldstein and Tema Goldman.
Translator's Footnotes
by Chatzkl Kagan, Recording Secretary of the Kamenetz Society in New York
Translated by Allen Flusberg
A banner with the slogan “Don't forget, don't forgive” is hanging over the stage. A menorah with six candlesticks is sitting on the table. The prominent landsleit [fellow townspeople] sit around the table: Rabbi Yitzchok Turetz, a son-in-law of Rabbi Boruch Ber, who headed the Kamenetz Yeshiva; Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni, a [former] student at the Kamenetz Yeshiva; Rabbi Yosef Dolinsky (a son of Koppl the tailor); vice-presidents Chaim Mendelson and Velvl Kustin. The following are sitting on the right side, next to a small table: the finance secretaries Mrs. Chaya Goldberg and Elvin Sheinfeld. Chatzkl Kagan, recording secretary, sits on the left side, next to small table.
The auditorium is full of landsleit, young and old, from various walks of life, who have come from near and far to pay their respects to the martyrs, and to shed a few tears communally.
Our honorable president, Avrohom Shudroff, who is chairing the memorial meeting, declares from the stage that the meeting has commenced. A hush falls over the auditorium as all eyes turn to the stage. The chairman calls up the chazan [cantor], Avrohom Aharon Weinberger, who recites a chapter of Tehillim [Psalms].
The correspondence secretary, Mrs. Sarah Hurwitz, reads a communication from the [Yizkor] Book Committee of Israel, written by Pinchas Rabinowitch. He describes the Kamenetz destruction, stating that it is the obligation of our landsleit, scattered across the globe, to establish a memorial to perpetuate the martyrs. The Yizkor Book will serve as such a memorial. The chairman, Avrohom Shudroff, thanks everyone for responding by coming to attend, especially Rabbi Yitzchok Turetz for coming to take part in our communal sorrow.
[Page 594]
Mr. Shudroff presents an overview of Kamenetz, which was famous for its scholars as well as skilled workmen from all walks of life—all of whom perished during the Hitler period. The Yizkor Book that we, the committee, are preparing for publication, will serve as the greatest and most significant monument to them.
He ends his speech by reading a “proclamation” that was published about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
He then hands the floor over to Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni, who says:
“Friends and landsleit, being here with you I will present a review of Kamenetz. But first I wish to express our sorrow over the loss of Israel's President Ben-Tzvi[2], whom I knew personally. He was someone who incorporated the greatness of an individual not only from the perspective of Jews, but also from that of non-Jews. Let us now pay our respects to his memory by rising for a minute of silence.[Page 595]“In the year 1943, when the sorrowful news of the Jewish annihilation reached us, we in Israel did not believe it—we could not take the events in. Even religious Jews were unable to grasp it; and there were instances of disillusionment with religion because of the catastrophe.
“The State of Israel has come into existence signifying a mirroring of the life of all the towns and shtetls.
“What comes back to me about Kamenetz is the warmth of the people, whom I liked so much.
“I stayed over with Dodye the butcher, a very warm and honest person, full of friendliness and goodness; Hershl Rudnicki, the owner of the hardware store, who was modern in thought, and had such great love for Israel, for worldliness; even Laybl Katz, the communist—he was such a good, warm person. All of them, without distinction, were such dear, good people.
“Rabbi Reuven Burstein, the rabbi of the small town, who was descended from a line of rabbis, was a wonderful, noble person—from examples in the Talmud he might be compared to King Solomon. The book that Rabbi Burstein published is very valuable. (Here Rabbi Gershuni cites an article from the book that was related to kiddush hashem [Sanctification of God's Name], as if he [Burstein] foresaw that such a time would come.) Rabbi Burstein was very tolerant, a quality that made him even greater.”[3]
In Rabbi Gershuni's speech, it has been interesting to hear the depiction of a splendid past.
The chairman thanks Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni for the warm speech about Kamenetz.
In the name of the committee, he appeals to the audience to provide funding for publication.
The response is certainly warm: there are contributors who respond very generously. The names of these contributors have been recorded in the account book. The appeal has brought in a large sum of money.
The chairman introduces Rabbi Yitzchok Turetz, who speaks lovingly about the people of Kamenetz, saying that the world and the Jews throughout the world did nothing to raise a hue and cry about the horrifying destruction. The Jews of Kamenetz certainly did cry out, demanding and calling upon their own relatives to remember. He turns to the chairman, squeezes his hand and says: “You are all to be commended—it is refreshing to be here with you!”
The six candles are lit—the symbol of the six million of our people who perished.
The first candle is lit by Dvorke Singer, the daughter of Yoel Rudnicki, one of the two survivors of the concentration camps (the second, Lyube Strashinsky, lives in Washington and is not present today). Others light candles: the president of Malbush Arumim[4], Mrs. Rivka Lipshitz from the Kamenetz Society; Mr. M. Visotzky and Mr. Miletzky of the Workmen's Circle; Chaim Rubin, Jack Joffe from the Lapates Family Circle; Isser Goldberg and Mrs. Siegel.
The sixth candle is lit by three rabbis: Rabbi Yitzchok Turetz, Rabbi Yehuda Gershuni, and Rabbi Yosef Dolinsky.
Vice-President Velvl Kustin is called up to read from his memoirs, which he has written for the Yizkor Book. In the middle of his reading, as he mentions his family members, his voice chokes up, and he is unable to continue reading. This incident brings tears to the eyes of many of those present. Vice-Chairman Ḥaim Mendelson is asked to read a poem, “Kamenetz”, which he himself has written.
The chairman states that a resolution is read at every memorial. This time the resolution will be read by Recording Secretary Chatzkel Kagan:
[Pages 596-597]
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| Yiddish on sign at rear: “Kamenetz-Litowsk. We honor the memory of our martyrs, whom we will never forget.”[5] |
[Page 598]
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From right to left: Yehoshua Silbergleit (treasurer), Zeev Kustin, Shmuel Yitzchok Melnitzky (vice-president), Mordechai Borenstein, Dov Appleman (president), Chaim Velvl Mendelson, Shraga Feivl Tendler (finance secretary). |
[Page 599]
“We, the landsleit of Kamenetz-Litowsk, Zastavya and Colonies, have assembled here on Sunday, 4 Iyar 5723—corresponding to April 28, 1963—in the Adelphi Building, 74 Fifth Avenue, New York, to remember the beloved dear members of our family. They were put to death as martyrs by the Germans Fascist murderers—with the help of Polish and Ukrainian Fascists—only because they were Jews.The chazan chants the traditional El Molei Raḥamim [“God Full of Compassion”, prayer for the souls of the dead].“We promise not to forget and not to forgive the horrifying extermination.”
“The Yizkor-Book Committee here in America, in partnership with the Israel Committee, will participate together in this monument with all we can, materially and spiritually, to honor our martyrs. We promise to keep the sacred oath of all the Jewish ghetto fighters and partisans—who have elevated the esteem of the Jewish people—with the promise to do everything we can to prevent such slaughters from ever taking place again.”
“Hail to the martyrs! We will never forget you!”
As chairman, the president, Avrohom Shudroff, has contributed his esteem to carry out the mission of the Yizkor-Book Committee.
After the meeting ended the landsleit remain in the auditorium, conversing about their impressions of the memorial meeting.
These, then, are the proceedings of the third memorial meeting.
[Page 600]
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Standing, right-to-left: Ḥ. Z. Mendelson, M. Visotzky, V. Kustin, Ḥ. Hurwitz, Goldberg, A. Kozak, Goldberg Sitting, right-to-left: Y. Sheinfeld, S. Horowitz, President Avrohom Shudroff, P. LIptchik, Ḥ. Kagan [Two other names are added here on the left, between the two lines of the caption, in a different font:] H. Gers, Ḥ. Rubin.. |
Translator's Footnotes
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